Means for securing the ends of tie means



April 3, 1963 D. B. MATHES 3,086,267

MEANS FOR SECURING THE ENDS OF TIE MEANS Filed April 4, 1960 INVENTOR. D urant B. Maihes ATTORNEY 3,086,257 Patented Apr. 23, 1963 3,086,267 MEANS FOR SECURING THE ENDS F TIE MEANS Durant B. Mathes, 2614 Litchfield, Wichita, Kaus. Filed Apr. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 19,821 3 Claims. (Cl. 24-117) This invention relates to means for securing the ends of tie means. More particularly, the invention discloses a structure designed specifically for receiving and securing in said structure the ends of any type of tie means. In a still more specific aspect, the invention relates to a device which can receive the ends of the tie means to freely move therethrough in one direction, but which will prevent the accidental displacement and removal of the tie means from the structure in the other direction.

In the prior art, many devices and structures are known which are designed to secure, in one manner or another, the ends of tie means. Many of these devices have proved ineffective, and in fact have been unable to perform their intended function. Other of these structures are too complicated either in operation or in the structural components to provide a tie means which is both economical to produce and extremely easy and simple to use.

In accordance with the present invention, a new device for securing the ends of tie means has been invented which is extremely easy to use, and consists of a few easily manufactured elements. The tie means of the invention is so simple in operation that even a child can use it, and in fact one of the preferred applications of the invention is to the shoe laces of a childs shoe. The ends of the tie means are simply passed through the device in one direction, and when thus positioned within .the structure of the invention they will be wedged therein when urged in the opposite direction to thereby prevent accidental displacement, but can be easily removed when intentionally desired.

The structure of the new tie means of the invention includes a body member which is hollow and open at both ends. An element is received within the body and is dimensioned to be movable within the hollow interior of the body. The two elements are arranged and constructed so that the ends of tie means can be passed through the hollow interior of the body member and moved freely in one direction, but when urged in the other direction the element therein will wedge the tie means between the element and the body member to prevent accidental movement of the tie means therefrom.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved means for securing the ends of tie means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple means for securing the ends of tie means which is easily constructed and simple to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means to secure the ends of the tie means in which all, or most, of the structure can be formed of molded plastic material.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved means for securing the ends of shoe laces on a childs shoe.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following discussion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an ordinary shoe having the tie means of the invention secured thereto.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded view of the tie means of the invention.

FlG. 3 is an enlarged cross section view showing a preferred construction of the tie means of the invention.

The following is a discussion and description of a preferred specific embodiment of the new tie means of the invention, such being made with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description are not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows an ordinary shoe 10 having laces 12 thereon. The article of the invention is shown generally at 14 and, in this particular application, receives the ends of the shoe strings 12 and maintains them tightly laced in the shoe 10.

The details of the construction of the tie means of the invention are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The invention includes a cylindrical body member 16, preferably made of plastic, which is hollow. The particular shape of the outside surface is not material to the invention, except that a regular surface, such as the cylindrical one shown at 18, or a rectangular surface, can usually be obtained in standard stock sizes, and therefore reduces cost of manufacture.

The interior wall or surface 20 of the member 16 is preferably uniformly tapered and has openings at both ends of the body member 16. Other shapes of interior surfaces are, of course satisfactory, but the one shown and described is preferred as being more elficient in operation and reduces overall cost due to the ease of manufacture.

A spherical element 22 forms part of the structure of the invention, and is positioned within the hollow tapered interior of the body member 16. The spherical element 22 is preferably knurled or otherwise roughened on its surface to increase the friction properties of the element. The member 22 can be made from plastic materials or from any of a number of other materials, such as wood, rubber or synthetic rubber, some metals, or any other material, which would be apparent to one skilled in the art. The other elements of the structure can also be made from these materials.

The element 22 is dimensioned relatively to the body member 16 so that it is greater in diameter than the smaller opening into the body 16 and smaller in diameter than the larger opening into the body. Also, the spherical element 22 should be of such size that it can move at least a short distance along the axis of the body member 16.

A cover member 24 is mounted on the body member 16 to close the larger opening into the hollow interior of the body member. The cover 24 can either be mounted within the opening, as shown in FIG. 3, or it can be larger in diameter than the opening and can then be secured to the end of the body member 16. The cover 24 is secured to the body member 16 in any suitable manner, such as by merely cementing it thereto, and when it is mounted within the hollow interior of the body member 16 it can be tapered along its outer edge as shown in FIG. 3 to be wedged against the surface 20 and thus secured to the body member 16.

The cover 24 has two apertures 26 formed therein. The apertures 26 are of such size as to receive the ends of the tie means used in any particular application, and can, of course, vary according to the desired application of the invention. The apertures 26 are preferably spaced equally from opposite sides of the center of the cover 24. This arrangement can also be varied according to the desired application of the invention. The apertures 26 open into the hollow interior of the body member 16.

The cover 24 of the preferred embodiment has a convex outer surface. The cover is made in this manner so as to increase the size of the hollow interior containing and retaining the spherical element 22. This construction, in effect, extends the sides or the length of the body member 16 and thus reduces the overall cost of the item due to the reduction in material needed. In some applications it will be desirable to form the cover member 24 of a flat or disc-shaped piece of material, and in such a case it will be necessary to proportionally extend the length of the body member 16 enough to provide for some movement for the spherical element 22 therein. Other types of cover means can be used if desired.

With the device assembled in the manner shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is extremely simple to operate. The ends of tie means, such as the shoe laces 12 of the shoe 10 shown in FIG. l, are passed through the smaller opening into the hollow interior of the body member 16 and are received by and extend through the openings or apertures 26 in the cover member 24. The spherical element 22 is dimensioned as previously explained so that it can move within the body member 16 to provide for the insertion of the end of the tie means 12. As the ends of the tie means 12 are inserted and pulled through the body member 16 in the manner just described, there will be no interference with their movement therethrough by the element 22. When the device is pulled tight onto the shoe, and both of the tie means 12 are then urged in the opposite direction, or from the larger to the smaller opening at the same time, the spherical element 22 will be urged towards the smaller opening and will wedge the tie means 12 between the spherical element 22 and the body member 16 to thereby prevent removal of the tie means therefrom. The exterior surface of the spherical element 22 is roughened or knurled as previously explained to enhance its gripping qualities during the attempted removal of the tie means 12.

To release the gripping action of the spherical element 22 and remove the tie means 12 from the body member 16 the tie means 12 are urged towards the larger opening in the member 16 which disengages the gripping spherical element 22. Then the ends of the tie means 12 are individually pulled towards the smaller opening in the body member 16. This individual movement of the tie means 12 prevents the spherical element 22 from wedging and locking the tie means therein during the removal process.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, many types of material can be used for the various elements of the invention. due to the simplicity of manufacture when using this material; however, each of the parts can also be made of metals, wood, rubber or synthetic rubber materials; in fact, almost any material can be used for the various elements.

The invention has been described in connection with its use for securing shoe laces tightly on a shoe; however the invention is not to be limited to this application. The structure described and shown is suitable for, and used with, any tie, means whether they are small like a shoe lace or large ropes, fabrics, sheet material, etc. The invention was described in connection with its use with shoe laces to illustrate the simplicity of operation whereby even a small child can install and use the device of the invention with his shoe laces before he is old enough to tie them in the conventional manner.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, various modifications of this invention can be made, or followed, in the light of this description and discussion, without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. Means for securing the ends of tie means comprising, in combination, a cylindrical plastic body member. said body member being hollow and having openings of Plastic materials are preferred different sizes at the ends thereof, the inside of said body member being uniformly tapered from one of said openings to the other of said openings, a generally spherical element received within said body member, said spherical element having a knurled surface, said element having a diameter greater than one of said openings into said body member and smaller than the other of said openings into said body member, a convex cover mounted on said body member and closing the larger of said openings, there being two apertures in said cover, said apertures being spaced equally from opposite sides of th center of said cover and opening into the hollow interior of said body member, said cover being mounted on said body member so that said convex portion projects away from said body member, said device being constructed and adapted so that the ends of tie means can be passed through the smaller of said openings into said body member and out through said apertures in said cover so that when said tie means are urged toward said smaller of said openings said knurled spherical element will wedge said tie means between said element and said body member to prevent accidental removal of said tie means therefrom and movement of one of said tie means toward said larger of said openings will move into spherical element toward said cover and permit movement of the other of said tie means through said smaller of said openings.

2. Means for securing the ends of tie means comprising, in combination, an elongated plastic body member, said body member being hollow and having openings of different sizes at the ends thereof, the inside of said body member being tapered from one of said openings to the other of said openings, a generally spherical element received within said body, a convex cover closing the larger of said openings and mounted on said body member with the convex portion thereof projecting away from said body member, there being apertures in said cover opening into the inside of said body, said device being constructed and adapted so that the ends of tie means can be passed through said body member and through said apertures in i said cover so that when said tie means are urged towards the smaller of said openings said spherical element will wedge said tie means between said element and said body to prevent accidental removal of said tie means therefrom and movement of one of said tie means towards said larger of said openings will move said spherical element toward said cover and permit movement of the other of said tie means through said smaller of said openings,

3. A device for securing the ends of tie means comprising, in combination, a hollow body member, said body member having openings of different sizes at the ends thereof and being tapered from one of said openings to the other of said openings, a spherical element within said body member, a convex cover mounted on and closing the larger of said openings with the convex portion thereof projecting away from said body member, said cover having apertures therethrough opening into said body member, said device being constructed and adapted so that the ends of tie means can be passed through said device and through said apertures in said cover so that when said tie means are urged towards the smaller of said openings in said body member said spherical element will wedge said tie means between said element and said body to prevent accidental removal of said tie means therefrom and movement of said one of said tie means towards the larger of said openings will move said spherical element toward said cover and permit movement of the other of said tie means through said smaller of said openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,618,901 Woolman Feb. 22, i927 FOREIGN PATENTS 607,508 Germany Dec. 29, 1934 

3. A DEVICE FOR SECURING THE ENDS OF TIE MEANS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A HOLLOW BODY MEMBER, SAID BODY MEMBER HAVING OPENINGS OF DIFFERENT SIZES AT THE ENDS THEREOF AND BEING TAPERED FROM ONE OF SAID OPENINGS TO THE OTHER OF SAID OPENINGS, A SPHERICAL ELEMENT WITHIN SAID BODY MEMBER, A CONVEX COVER MOUNTED ON AND CLOSING THE LARGER OF SAID OPENINGS WITH THE CONVEX PORTION THEREOF PROJECTING AWAY FROM SAID BODY MEMBER, SAID COVER HAVING APERTURES THERETHROUGH OPENING INTO SAID BODY MEMBER, SAID DEVICE BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ADAPTED SO THAT THE ENDS OF TIE MEANS CAN BE PASSED THROUGH SAID DEVICE AND THROUGH SAID APERTURES IN SAID COVER SO THAT WHEN SAID TIE MEANS ARE URGED TOWARDS THE SMALLER OF SAID OPENINGS IN SAID BODY MEMBER SAID SPHERICAL ELEMENT WILL WEDGE SAID TIE MEANS BETWEEN SAID ELEMENT AND SAID BODY TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL REMOVAL OF SAID TIE MEANS THEREFROM AND MOVEMENT OF SAID ONE OF SAID TIE MEANS TOWARDS THE LARGER OF SAID OPENINGS WILL MOVE SAID SPHERICAL ELEMENT TOWARD SAID COVER AND PERMIT MOVEMENT OF THE OTHER OF SAID TIE MEANS THROUGH SAID SMALLER OF SAID OPENINGS. 